Paris-Nice: we call him “big thighs”, Olav Kooij wins a second time in the sprint, in Sisteron

Le sprinteur néerlandais double la mise en remportant sa deuxième étape au sprint jeudi au pied de la citadelle de Sisteron EPA – SEBASTIEN NOGIER

Course après course, Kooij, 22 ans, s'affirme, course après course, comme l'un des meilleurs sprinteurs du monde. 

And two for Olav Kooij: the Dutch sprinter doubled the stakes on Paris-Nice by winning his second stage in the sprint on Thursday at the foot of the Sisteron citadel. Already winner in Les Mureaux during the first stage, the Visma-Lease a bike rocket did it again by taking, like last Sunday, the best over the Dane Mads Pedersen, once again second.

After a quiet day for the favorites, the Australian Luke Plapp retained the yellow jersey with thirteen seconds ahead of the Colombian Santiago Buitrago. "It's a very good week for me", noted Kooij who, at 22, is asserting himself , race after race, as one of the best sprinters in the world.

The main favorites are held in less than a minute

This was probably the last opportunity for the "big thighs" to shine before the last three stages which promise to be much more difficult than that of Thursday, run in magnificent landscapes, under a splendid sun. "A wonderful day on the beautiful French roads", enjoyed Luke Plapp.

The weather also risks getting bad, from Friday, between Sisteron and La-Colle-sur-Loup, and pessimism was still in order for the queen stage on Saturday towards the station of Auron skiing where snow is forecast. The organizers were still waiting for the latest forecasts before possibly proposing an alternative for the finale in the Alpes-Maritimes.

The architecture of the weekend, in the Nice hinterland, will be crucial for the final victory as the main favorites are held within a minute. The Belgian Remco Evenepoel, restless in the final loop around Sisteron, remains best placed (5th at 30 seconds from Plapp), while Primoz Roglic (15th at 1 min 10 sec) remained well hidden in the peloton on Thursday.

A Friday with five climbs

Friday's stage, with five second and third category climbs on the program, can offer a first playground for launching offensives. On paper, it is mainly Saturday, with the Col de la Colmiane and the final climb towards Auron which promises to be the justice of the peace of this 82nd edition.

But the strong threat hanging over the end of the route could postpone the decision to the last stage in Nice, very compact (only 109 km) but with a sharp profile. In the meantime, Kooij was "super happy to have found the opening" along the Durance for s& #39;impose with a comfortable lead facing the Rocher de la Baume.

"Now we will pursue other objectives with Matteo (Jorgenson) for the general ranking", he added. His American teammate is eighth in the general classification, 52 seconds behind the leader.

Mads Pedersen consoled himself by donning the green jersey but without hiding his disappointment. "I'm here to win a stage. The green jersey is good, but I didn't come for that", regretted the 2019 world champion.